Patio with View of the Lake

One of the nice things about a backyard landscape with a view is that you may not need to have as many design elements simply because the view is such a standout element to the whole area. For example, this lake is such a great thing to look out on, why would you want to have a bunch of other elements that could distract from it? If this were looking out on a massive swathe of desert hills, though, you may find yourself wanting to do more with your backyard so it balances the theoretical desolation of a desert setting.